Prasidh's four-for, Gill-Buttler fifties power Titans past LSG

In a nutshell

Back to back half-centuries from Jos Buttler and Shubman Gill, following a four-wicket haul from Prasidh Krishna, helped Gujarat Titans win their second successive game as they inflicted a convincing seven-wicket defeat on hosts Lucknow Super Giants on Sunday (April 12). Prasidh's miserly 4 for 28 ensured LSG lost wickets at regular intervals to never mount a challenging total. After losing Sai Sudharsan early, Gill and Buttler combined to resurrect the chase, which the visitors comfortably completed with eight balls to spare.

Match in phases

Brief scores: Lucknow Super Giants 164/8 in 20 overs [Aiden Markram 30 (21); Prasidh Krishna 4-28, Ashok Sharma 2-32] lost to Gujarat Titans 165/3 in 18.4 overs [Jos Buttler 60 (37), Shubman Gill 56 (40)] by 7 wickets

Why did LSG stutter?

Because none of their top-order batters converted their starts. Aiden Markram (30 off 21) and Mitch Marsh (11 off 4) both got off to brisk starts; skipper Rishabh Pant too began with a similar tempo and hit a couple of boundaries and a six in his typically unorthodox 11-ball 18. However, all three fell after settling in; all of them perishing to glory shots. Nicholas Pooran was uncharacteristically slow, and so was Abdul Samad. The team had lower-order's cameos to thank for a respectable 160+ total.

Another Mukul Choudhary special?

Not really. He did slam and a six and a four in his brief stay, but it was more a collaborative effort from the LSG lower order today. They fought right till the last, collecting 44 in the last three overs to give themselves a defendable score.

Was it enough, though?

Not the way Shubman Gill started. After getting his eye in, the GT skipper took on Mohd. Shami for his most expensive over in IPL 2026 yet. A no-look lofted drive for six, a sublime cover drive and two more boundaries on the legside made it a 20-run fifth over of the Powerplay. His knock ended soon after a 34-ball fifty, but the 84-run stand with Buttler ensured GT were well on course.

What did Buttler do?

Continue his good form with a second successive fifty this season. He got a life on 12 when Pant dropped a tough chance, and never looked back. Buttler kept finding regular boundaries through the middle over to never let the LSG spinners dominate. He then took on George Linde with a hat-trick of boundaries, going past 14,000 T20 runs with the second of those, and later reached a 29-ball half-century - his 100th in T20 cricket.

No hiccups then?

Not really. A fragile middle-order had been a concern at the start of the tournament, and Titans did lose both the set half-centurions in the space of six deliveries when the team still needed 30 off 26 balls. However, Washington Sundar and Rahul Tewatia combined to guide their team home with an unbeaten 30-run partnership in just 18 balls, marking two consecutive wins for their side.

What next for the teams?

Titans head home for their game against KKR on Friday (April 17). LSG face RCB next, in Bengaluru on Wednesday (April 15).